Anne Steele Tomkin, Abingdon, to Mary Steele Dunscombe, Yeovil, Wednesday morning, undated [early 1798].

Oakley   Wednesday Morn

   I had expected your last letter my dear Sister with much anxiety and was griev’d to find indisposition combined to enervate a mind bending under the pressure of deep regret; how intricate & mysterious is the path of life, whether we enter it under smiling, or frowning auspices, it is equally impervious to the eye. We are led on by degrees, unexpected scenes continually arise & the future seems to bear little relation to the past. Such reflections naturally arise when I contemplate your situation my Dr Sister, how little affinity had the calm dawn of your life to its troubled noon – how delightful the idea that there is a world beyond this ever changing clime; where the weary mind may rest its hopes – can I forget that amidst all the trials you are now call’d to bear, you have a friend who participates [in] every sorrow, & whose affections gilds many a passing cloud with brightness.

   It gave me pleasure to hear you were safely arrived at Yeovil though after a anxious journey. I want to know how Lucy has been since you left her, the parting scene must have been very distressing, how it is possible she can see you suffer & still think your affection diminish’d, but she is inexplicable, it is impossible to develop the secret recesses of her heart. – The weather has been delightful & I hope has invited you frequently on the hill – you must endeavour to use exercise as in a situation so different from Broton, your health will suffer – Mr D’s Letter inform’d us of Mrs Howe Senr being confined to her Bed. Poor woman, life can have few attractions to her, – he did not mention you. Mrs Howe who I conclude is much as usual. You can yet I imagine scarcely realize the idea that Yeovil [is to] be a permanent abode, but I suppose have receiv’d many congratulations on your arrival.  Alas, how discordant the string. – Mr Turner was much pleased with your pill & the smart paper was not lost on him.

   We are all well at Oakley the children have had bad colds but are recover’d – to me this fascinating season presents ever new delights nature daily unfolds her beauties & I am never weary of contemplating their progress.  T. [Joseph Tomkins] is much obliged to Mr Dunscombe for his Letter & says the account is very right.   Martha begs her love & desires you will tell Mr D –  that she did not pay the carriage of the parcel sent to Broton lest it should not go safe & begs he will place among the others – Em is sitting in my lap & Mary wandering about with the Gardener raking gravel &c – as busy as possible. She often talks of Uncle & Aunt D –  farewell my Dr Sister present my kind regards to Mr D & Mrs Howe & believe me ever yrs most affectionately

                                                         A T

Text: Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, 8 vols.  (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 3, pp. 348-49 (annotated version); STE 5/11/x, Steele Collection, Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford. Postmark: Abingdon, undated.  Address: Mrs Dunscombe / Mrs Howes / Yeovil / Somerset.  

The above letter was written shortly after Mary Steele, now Mrs. Dunscombe, removed to Yeovil (much against her will), c. late 1797-early 1798, and just prior to the death of Daniel Turner, Baptist minister at Abingdon (who is mentioned in the letter).  Thomas Dunscombe may have preferred living at Yeovil because it was closer to his original home of Tiverton, where he still had relations, among whom was an unmarried sister who is frequently mentioned in his letters.